Post-office furniture.



R. T. BOURN. POST OFFICE FURNITURE. uruouxon nun $138.12, 1906.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L nu: nonnls PETERS co, wAsm/vamm n c R. T. BOURN.

POST OFFICE FURNITURE.

rum-r1011 FILED r112. 12, 1906.

902,934. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

2 8KEETSSHEET 2.

12 19' Zfyi //c./wm 2 26 5K9/MAW7N7 wk ROBERT T. BOURN, OF TEMPLETON,MASSACHUSETTS.

POST-OFFICE FURNITURE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed February 12, 1906. Serial No. 300,567.

To all whom it may concern:

l 3e it known that I, ROBERT T. Bowen, a citizen of the United States,residing at Templeton, county of Worcester and Slate of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Post- Ofiice Furniture, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to post-office furniture, and especially to thecabinet or drawer used by the clerk, presiding at the stampwindow, forholding his stamps, stamped envelops postal cards, and similar supplies.

In most post-offices several separate drawers are used to keep thesesupplies, one drawer being used for stamped envelops or postals; anotherdrawer for stamps in small quantities; another drawer for stamps insheets; another drawer for the cash, etc.

Where so many different drawers 211' used more or less time is consumedin opening or closing the various drawers, and the em ployment of aplurality of drawers is often an inconvenience.

According to my present invention I have improved this class ofpost-office furniture by devising a drawer which is adapted to hold notonly all the various supplies which are usually called for at astamp-window, in sufficient quantity for even a large postoffice, butalso the cash received from the sale of the supplies.

In order to make the contents of the drawer more readily accessible Iprovide a novel form of counter, so constructed that the supplies whichare most frequently sold may be taken from the drawer through the top ofthe counter and without pulling the drawer out.

I will first describe one embodiment of my invention and then point outthe novel features thereof in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of thecounter or desk of a post oflice where the stamp-window is locatedshowing my improved one drawer system; Fig. 2 is an elevation; Fig. 3 isa detail of the cover for the drawer or removable portion of thecounter; Fig. 4 is a top plan of the drawer removed; Fig. 5 is a sectionin the line w.cc, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a (lei ail of the cover of thecounter.

8 designates in general the desk or countcr of a post-oilicc and l thestamp-wiudow.

In accordance with my invention l provide in the counter or desk 3 asingle drawer 5 which is especially designed to contain not only all thesupplies usually sold from a stamp-window but also the cash receivedfrom the sale of said supplies. These supplies usually include stamps ofall denominations, both in small quantities and in sheets stampedenvelops of various sizcs. postal cards, stamp-books and stampedwrappers. In order that all these supplies, as well as the cash receivedfrom the sales. may be accommodated in a single drawer 5 I make saiddrawer as followsz A portion of the drawer is divided by verticalpartitions (3 into a plurality of compartments adapted to receive thestamped cnvelops, postala-ards. StilllltVlNlOkS, etc.

As l have herein illustratml the drawer these partitions are soarranged. as to constitute a compartment 7 for receiving long stampedenvelope. a plurality of smaller compartments S For receiving thesmallcr stamped cnvclops, compartments 9 for rcceiving postal-cards, andsmaller compel-l ments 10 for receiving stamp-books of various sizes.

The envelope and postal cards are arranged on edge in thesecompartments, and the compartments are large enough to receive three.four or more bunches of each kind of envclops. These partitions (3 arealso so arranged as to form a compartmcnt 11 large enough to receive thecash in the form of bills received from the sale of supplies.

My improved drawer is arranged to receive stamps of the variousdenominations in strips of five and also in quarter sheets. The stampsin strips are contained in a suitable tray 12, which is preferablyarranged at the front of the drawer and which is divided by longitudinalpartitions 13 into a plurality of compartments ll. there bcing onecompartment for each denomination of stamps.

The compartments 1-i are just wide enough to receive the stamp and arelong enough to receive a strip of five stamps. I may, if dc sired, maketwo of the compartments of double width so that a double strip ofstamps, or ten stamps, may be placed therein.

These wider compartments would be used for the oneand two-cent stamps.because stamps of these denominations are very often sold in lots of tenas well in smallerlots.

The bottom of the tray 12 is curved up wardly at its front edge. as at15. so that the front end of the superimposed strips of stamps in eachcompartment may be readily grasped by the clerk and withdrawn from thecompartment.

In the present instance of my invention 1 provide another tray 16 forreceiving the cash in the shape of coin. This tray is preferably placeddirectly back of the tray 12. and is divided by longitudinal partitions17 into compartments 18 for receiving coin of different denominations.

Both the trays 12 and 16 are preferably removably supported by thedrawer. They are of considerably less depth than the drawer and beneaththem is a considerable space 1!) for storage room.

The stamped wrappers for papers. etc. are received in a compartment 20which is of a suitable size to receive packages of wrappers liat. Thiscompartment is preferably pro vided. with the false bottom 21. which. isshown as hinged to the backside of the drawer. as at; 32.

The space 2 beneath this false bottom furnishes ample storage room forpackages of stamped wrappers, and the space above said false bottom isample to receive the broken packages or loose stamped wrappers.

The false bottom 21 is provided at its front edge with a finger-piece orhandle 24 by means of which it may be raised when acc ss to thecompartment is desired.

.1 designates stops or supports on which the front edge of the falsebottom 21 rests when it is in its normal position. 26 desi nates aplurality of hinged trays which are adapted to receive the stamps ofvarious denominations in sheets. These trays are shown as being hingedto the backside of the drawer. as at 27. and each is divided by a.longitudinal partition 28 into two compartments 9!). each compartment 29being of a size to receive a quarter sheet of stamps.

There are sutiicient trays to form a co1npartment 2!.) for eachdenomination of stamp. These various trays are so lunged that the frontedge of all the trays are exposed. and the front edge of each tray isprovided with a finger-piece 30 so that the contents of any tray may bereadily exposed by the turning back of the trays located above it. Forinstance. if it was desired to take a quarter sheet of stamps from thebottom tray 26 then the next-to-the-bottom tray would be turned back.say neXt-to-the-bottom tray carrying with it all the trays above it.

It will be noted that with the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the supplieswhich are most commonly soid. and also the cash, are arranged at thefront portion of the drawer. In order to make these supplies and thecash readily accessible without pulling the drawer out I make the top ofthe desk or counter in a special way. it being cut away. as at 300, seeFig. 1. to expose the front portion of the drawer. A removable closure31 is provided for covering this opening in the top of the counter ordesk and for completing the counter when the drawer 5 is to be locked.

W'hen the clerk comes on duty however he removes the removable cover orclosure 31, thus exposing the front portion of the drawer 5 in which themost commonly used supplies are received. \Vhen the cover 31 is removed.as described. the clerk may sell small quantit ies of stamps of alldenominations. stamped envelops of different sizes. postal cards. andstamp-btmks without pulling the drawer 5 out.

If. however. a sale of stamped wrappers or of stamps in the quartersheet is made the clerk would be required to pull the drawer outsufiiciently to expose the compartment containing these supplies. Theamount that the drawer would have to be pulled out however would becomparatively little. as the drawing of the drawer one-third of itslength will give access to the compartment contain ing the stamps in thequarter sheet or the stamped wrappers.

I have so constructed the closure 31 that when it is in place it willlock the drawer 5 from being pulled out. F or this purpose it isprovided with one or more projections 33 which, when the cover is inplace, are received under the edge 34 of the opening in the counter, andit is also provided withprojections 35 which enter suit-able notches 36in the false top 37 of the counter or desk. The closure is also providedwith the looking projections 38 of any ordinary chestloc-k. whichprojections enter apertures 39 in the front wall of the drawer 5 and arelocked therein as usual.

IVhen the closure 31 is in place, therefore. it cannot be drawnforwardly because of the interlocking of the projections and notches 86.nor can the back edge thereof be raised because of the projections 30.nor can the front edge thereof be raised because of the fact that it islocked to the drawer 5. When the chest-lock is unlocked. however, thefront edge of the closure may be raised to disengage the'projeetions 35from the notches 36 when the closure may be readily removed.

In large post-offices two or more stampclerks may preside at the sameWindow at different intervals of time. one clerk being thereduring themorning hours and another clerk during the afternoon and evening forinstance.

Where two or more clerks do thus preside at the same window each clerkhas his own stock of supplies to sell from; and, therefore, I propose toplace in front of each stamp-window 4: two drawers 5 arranged side byside, as shown in Fig. 1. When two drawers are thus used neither draweris exactly in front of the window, the window being half way between thedrawers. With this arrangement I propose to put the trays 12 and 16,which are most used, on the side of the drawer adjacent the middle ofthe window. The two drawers would, therefore, be arranged as right andleft. This, however, is not essential to my invention.

In connection with my improved drawer 5 I propose to make underneath thecounter a cupboard arranged for keeping supplies in the bulk. Thesecupboards are designated by 40 and 41 respectively, and are each adaptedto be closed by suitable doors 42. The cupboards may have any suitableinterior arrangement. I have herein shown them as provided with variouscompartments 43 adapted for holding boxes of envelops, and as having adrawer 43 arranged for holding packages of stem s of differentdenominations, the drawer being of a size to receive the packages onedge. Between the various packages I place a removable partition 45similar to the dividing partition in an ordinary card catalogue.

The drawer 5 may be made of a size to latter is in closed posltion beingremovable receive three or four hundred dollars worth of supplieswithout making it at all bulky or cumbersome to handle. It will thus beseen that with my invention the various supplies sold at a stamp windowmay be kept in a single drawer and kept in such a way as to be readilyaccessible, and also in sullicient quantities to meet ordinary demands.

IVhile the arrangement of partitions and compartments in the drawerherein illustrated is that which I deem preferable yet my invention isnot limited thereto;

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In post-ofiiee furniture, the combination with adesk or counter, of a drawer therein divided into compartments, the portion of the top of the desk at the front edge thereof immediately overthe front of the drawer when the latter is closed being removablewhereby access to the compartments at the front of the drawer may be hadwithout withdrawing said drawer, and means to lock both said portion ofthe desk when in place and the drawer when closed.

2. In post-oflice furniture, the combination with a counter or desk, ofa drawer therein having at its front portion coin-receiving compartmentsand small stamp-receiving compartments, the portion of the top of thedesk immediately over the front portion of the drawer when. closed beingremovable whereby access may be had to said coinreceiving andstamp-receiving compartment by removing the removable portion of the topof the desk and without withdrawing the drawer.

S. In post-oflice furniture, the combination with a counter or desk, ofa partition rising from said desk and having a window therein, and adrawer in said counter opposite the window, a portion of the top of thecounter immediately over the front part of the drawer when the latter isclosed being removable so that access to the drawer may be had withoutwithdrawing the latter.

4. In post-oflice furniture, the combination with a desk or counter, ofa drawer therein having at its front portion coin-receiving compartnwntsand stamp-receiving compart ncnis. and at its rear portion a pinralityof pivotallyanountcd trays, the portion of the top of the deskimmei'liaiely over the front portion of the drawer when the wherebyaccess may be had to the coin-receiving and stamp-receiving compartmentswithout withdrawing the drawer.

5. In post-otlice furniture, a counter or desk having a top, a drawerslidably mounted in the desk beneath the top and divided into a pinality of compartments for receiving coins and supplies of differentcharacter, a portion of the top of the desk being cut away to expose aportion of the drawer, a removable closure for the top of the desk, andmeans to lock the removable closure both to the drawer and to the deskor counter.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT T. BOURN.

\Vitnesses Louis C. SMITH, MARGARET A. DUNN.

